Black spot on monitor
A black spot, black dot or dark mark on a monitor or computer screen has the same three causes as on a laptop: dead pixels (a sharp black point or cluster on every colour), a crack in the LCD (a black blot with lines running from it), or pressure damage from something pressing the panel (a soft dark smudge on white).
Test it now
Full-screen white, red, green, blue and black. Black on all five = dead pixel or crack. Dark on white, gone on black = pressure mark. One colour wrong = stuck pixel — run the pixel fixer.
What it is
A black spot, black dot or dark mark on a monitor or computer screen has the same three causes as on a laptop: dead pixels (a sharp black point or cluster on every colour), a crack in the LCD (a black blot with lines running from it), or pressure damage from something pressing the panel (a soft dark smudge on white). On a monitor there is a fourth: a dead pixel-sized dot that shows only on some colours is a stuck sub-pixel, and those often can be revived.
Can it be fixed?
Dead pixels, cracks and pressure marks: no. Stuck pixels: often, with the fixer. Monitors are the one case where a panel repair rarely makes sense — a panel swap costs about what a new 24"–27" monitor does — so the real questions are the warranty pixel policy and the retailer return window.
What to do
- Run the five-colour test and count what you find.
- Stuck pixel: fixer for 15 minutes, re-test.
- Dead pixels: compare the count with the dead pixel policy for your brand; new monitor — return it.
- Crack or pressure mark out of warranty: price a new monitor before a repair.
What a repair costs
| United States | usually more than the monitor is worth — a panel swap starts around $150 and most 24"–27" monitors cost less new |
|---|---|
| India | ₹4,000–10,000 for a panel, so a new monitor is often the better buy |
Typical ranges from repair-shop and manufacturer price lists, 2026-09-06. Get two quotes; prices vary by model and city.
Warranty
Most makers replace a panel under warranty for physical panel faults that are not accidental damage; pressure marks, cracks and liquid damage are treated as accidental and are not covered. For dead pixels, each brand has a threshold (typically 3–5 bright or 5–8 dark pixels on a laptop; Dell's premium-panel guarantee replaces at one bright pixel).